Control of revolving beacons



' July 16, 1935. H. H. THOMPSON 2,008,408

CONTROL OF REVOLVING BEACONS Filed Oct. 20, 1950 INVENTOR Henry/2 Them sax;

/ ATTORNEY gives a signal by a sound device. stops rotating for a predetermined time interval after which it resumes rotation. The following is the operation.

I is the sound sensitive relay which responds to any prearranged sound signal when the switch, 2 connecting the whole system to the line is closed. The sound sensitive relay closes the coil circuit of the coil 3, through conductors I6, I], I9 and 23, thereby opening contactor 4. Contactor 4 in opening, closes interlock 5, thus keeping coil 3 energized, although the sound sensitive relay is opened when the sound stops.

The drum type contactor 2|. driven by the PatentedJuly 16,,1935.

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CONTROL OF REVOLVING BEACONS Henry H. Thompson, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 20', 1930, Serial No. 489,811

9 Claims.

port.

When the aviator The aviator in approaching the beacon I 4 The beacon This invention relates to the control of revolving beacons, and particularly to the control of revolving beacons by means of a sound sensitive device.

An object of the invention is to provide a beacon which will stop and point in the direction of an airport upon operation of a sound sensitive relay, in response to a horn, motor noise, or other suitable device to be controlled by the aviator.

Another object of the invention is to cause revolving beacons to stop and light a landing field in response to some sound signal from the pilot or plane. a

Further objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent from the following description and drawing wherein the single figure is a diagrammatic view of a beacon control embodying the invention.

The ordinary revolving beacon provides a signal for the aviator, but an additional directional beacon has heretofore been necessary to show the pilot to the landing field. This invention provides a single beacon which performs both of these functions, with a resultant saving in cost, and in addition, is automatic in its operation.

In normal operation, the beacon revolves, driven by a motor connected in a line, and acts as a signal for the aviator. gives a pre-arranged signal, the sound sensitive relayin conjunction with other relays and a contactor, stops the beacon to point to the airport, and after a set time has elapsed, begins rotating again when the thermal relay acts.

The single figure is a diagrammatic view of a beacon control embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, ordinarily when the line switch 2 is closed, the beacon motor 8, beacon I 4 and contactor 32 are rotating, and relay I is closed, the motor and contactor being driven by current supplied through conductors I9, 20 and motor 8, has a rotating member which is provided with a contact ring 32 and a contact segment 2]. A brush 28 connects conductor I8 to contact ring 32, and a brush 33 connects conductor 3| to contact segment 21. is provided with a non-conducting portion 6, in order to break the circuit through the drum contactor 2| at predetermined intervals. The coil 1 is ordinarily energized through the conductor I9, contactor 4, and conductor 29. main circuit is opened, due to contactor 4 being open, the coil 7 remains energized through a shunt circuit comprising the conductor l8, contactor 2| and conductors I9 and 3| until the nonconducting portion 6 of the segment 27 is met by the brush 33, whereupon that circuit is broken and the coil 7 deenergized, opening contactor 9, and stopping the motor 8 and deenergizing the brake coil I9 by breaking the circuit in conductors 26 and 20. The brake I3 sets bringing the motor 8 to rest, thereby stopping the beacon It and causing it to point in the direction of the air- The segment 2'! The beacon remains at rest for a predetermined time, as controlled by a relay II, which is here shown as a thermal relay. When the contactor 5 closes, it connects the heating coil I2 of 'the thermal relay I I across the line through conductors 24 and 25 and after a definite time interval the heating coil causes the thermostat I5 to open, thereby deenergizing coil 3. Contactor 9 then closes and connects the coil I across the line and contactor 9 closes thereby energizing the brake coil I and releasing the brake I3. Contactor 9 also starts the motor 8, and the beacon motor again rotates the beacon I4.

It will be seen from the above description that this invention provides a simple means for giving an air pilot the correct direction to the landing field when the pilot blows a horn or siren or when the motor noises become of sufilcient intensity for the sound sensitive relay to function.

Although there has been described a specific embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that other forms may be adapted, all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

' 'I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a device operable in response to the application of waves of a predetermined character, a beacon, beacon rotating means for normally continuously rotating the beacon, and means cooperating with the device operated on receiving a wave of the predetermined character to stop said rotating means at a predetermined When this position and cause said beacon to point in a predetermined direction.

2. Means for controlling a rotating beacon comprising, in combination, means including an electric motor for rotating the beacon, normally closed switch means for connecting the motor to a current source, sound wave responsive relay means connected to effect the opening of the switch means to stop the motor in response to the reception of sound waves of predetermined character by the relay means, circuit closing means actuated by the motor for rendering the relay means ineffective to arrest the operation of the motor until the beacon is pointed in a predetermined direction, a time-delay relay, and means actuated by the operation of the fist-named relay means for energizing the time-delay relay to reclose said switch means thereby causing the motor to start after a predetermined interval.

'3. In combination, a sound sensitive device, a beacon, beacon rotating means for normally continuously rotating the 'beacon, and means operated by the device on receiving a sound wave and cooperating with the beacon rotating means to stop operation of the latter at a predetermined position and cause said beacon to point in a predetermined direction.

4. A signalling system comprising, in combination, a rotatable beacon, means including an eleccircuit closing means actuated by the motor for rendering the relay means ineffective to arrest the operation of the motor until the beacon is pointed in a predetermined direction, a time-delay relay and means actuated by the operation of the first-named relay means for energizing the timedelay relay to reclose said switch means thereby causing the motor to start after a predetermined interval.

5. In combination, a rotatable beacon, a motor, driving means interconnecting the motor and beacon whereby the motor will normally continuously rotate the beacon, relay means for controlling the operation of the motor, a device operable in response to sound waves impinging thereon for controlling the operation of the relay means to efiect the stopping of the rotatable beacon, circuit means and switch means operated by said motor in synchronism with said beacon for rendering the relay means ineffective to arrest the operation of the motor until the beacon is pointed in a predetermined direction, and means for effecting the energization of the motor after a predetermined time interval.

6. A signalling system comprising, in combination, a rotatable light beam projector, means including an electric motor for normally continuously rotating the projector, a source of electrical energy for the system, means including a line switch for connecting the motor to the source of energy, an energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a control switch disposed in the non-operated position to complete the energizing circuit for closing the line switch, means operable in response to waves of a predetermined character impinging thereon for effecting the operation of the control switch to open the energizing circuit for the line switch, and means in-.

cluding a limit switch operated by the motor for rendering the control switch ineffective to open the energizing circuit to the line switch until the projector is in a predetermined position.

7. A signalling system comprising, in combina- I tion, a rotatable light beam projector, means including an electric motor for normally continuously rotating the projector, a source of electrical energy for the system, means including a line switch for connecting the motor to the source of energy, an energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a control switch disposed in the non-operated position to complete the energizing circuit for closing the line switch, an energizing circuit for the control switch, means operable in response to waves of a predetermined character impinging thereon for completing the energizing circuit for the control switch to open the energizing circuit for the line switch, contact means disposed to be closed by the control switch on operation for maintaining the energizing circuit for the control switch completed after the cessation of the waves impinging on the wave responsive means, and means including a limit switch operated by the motor for rendering the control switch ineffective to open the energizing circuit to the line switch until the projector is in a predetermined position.

8. A signalling system comprising, in combination, a rotatable light beam projector, means including an electric motor for normally continuously rotating the projector, a source of electrical energy for the system, means including a line switch for connecting the motor to the source of energy, an energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a control switch disposed in the non-operated position to complete the energizing circuit for closing the line switch, means operable in response to waves of a predetermined character impinging thereon for effecting the operation of the control switch to open the energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a limit switch operated by the motor for rendering the control switch ineifective to open the energizing circuit to the line switch until the projector is in a predetermined position, and means including a time delay device for effecting the operation of the motor to again rotate the projector after it has been stopped for a predetermined interval.

9. A signalling system comprising, in combination, a rotatable light beam projector, means including an electric motor for normally continuously rotating the projector, a source of electrical energy for the system, means including a line switch for connecting the motor to the source of energy, an energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a control switch disposed in the non-operated position to complete the energizing circuit for closing the line switch, an energizing circuit for the control switch, means operable in response to waves of a predetermined character impinging thereon for effecting the operation of the control switch to open the energizing circuit for the line switch, means including a limit switch operated by the motor for rendering the control switch ineffective to open the energizing circuit to the line switch until the projector is in a predetermined position, and means including a time delay relay disposed to be connected to the source of energy on operation of the control switch for opening the energizing circuit for the control switch after a predetermined time interval thereby permitting the control switch to move to the non-operated position to complete the energizing circuit for the line switch.

HENRY H. THOMPSON. 

